IOM Venezuela proposes a multisectoral approach to the response that ensures access to basic needs through a network of assistance located at strategic points along migratory routes. Key activities include:

• Strengthening the capabilities of IOM's implementing partners and enhancing IOM's humanitarian network and operational standards (based on context and needs) at the Mobile Assistance Points (MAPs), Temporary Accommodation Centres (TACs) to ensure the provision of multisectoral assistance for people on the move.
• Provision of food, tailored to the specific context, addressing the basic need for sustenance over a designated period. This assistance will be delivered in a dignified, safe, diet-appropriate, and culturally sensitive manner, with quantities determined by the context, needs, and available resources.

IOM in Venezuela leads the Site Coordination in the country and implements a comprehensive set of initiatives that enhance local capacities in CCCM. This effort focuses on ensuring adherence to high operational standards in transit, collective and reception sites that IOM manages through implementing partners (Ips) as well as promoting the upgrade of standards in sites managed by other UN Agencies and humanitarian partners. The standards are being upgraded in accordance with the Transit Centres Management Guide and CCCM Guide developed by IOM Venezuela. Key activities include:

• Targeted CCCM training and the creation of guidelines and protocols to strengthen the management capacities of implementing partners that manage IOM’s sites as well as UN Agencies, local civil society and international organizations and local government authorities working on CCCM through direct management of sites or with service provision to the sites. This aims to align with humanitarian standards, emphasizing quality multisectoral assistance, protection measures, data collection and management protocols, and the prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse (PSEA) and accountability to affected populations (AAP).
• Standardizing the management model of transit, collective and reception centres, with support from IOM, other UN agencies, and NGOs, which covers aspects such as physical space, waste management, water usage, and the provision of essential services, including food, accommodation, WASH, health, and protection.
• Provision of necessary equipment to enhance the environment for safe and dignified assistance, while ensuring that supplies and equipment meet the operational standards of transit centres.
• Development of comprehensive monitoring and evaluation tools to assess needs and establish minimum standards for temporary centres and assessment of needs in all the temporary sites managed by humanitarian partners in Venezuela.
• Advocacy in the clusters of the humanitarian structure in Venezuela as well as donor engagement to find ways to address the needs in temporary sites.    
• Provision of strategic, technical and coordination support to the humanitarian inter-agency system via the CCCM Working Group, with particular emphasis on the local level and public institutions (Civil Protection, firefighters, 911 Venezuela), enabling the management of transit, collective, reception and evacuation centres in situations related to disaster response or other circumstances.

To address the health needs of vulnerable communities and individuals along migration routes, IOM is dedicated to enhancing access to essential health services. This initiative focuses on:

• Provision of primary healthcare services in vulnerable communities and along migratory routes. This includes primary health care at TACs/MAPs for people on the move, including returnees. Services will cover first aid, health assessments, vital signs monitoring, basic sexual and reproductive care, nutritional screening, maternal and child healthcare and safe referrals. It also includes the deployment of mobile health teams comprised of general practitioners, pediatricians, gynecologists, pharmacists and nurses to provide life-saving assistance for vulnerable populations in remote areas of border states, that face significant barriers to access the health system and are the most impacted by the crisis.
• Empowering local communities by strengthening the capacity of community health workers (CHWs) and frontline health staff through training, while conducting health promotion and disease prevention activities to enhance awareness, improve preventive practices, and foster resilience for better health outcomes.
• Improving healthcare infrastructure and ensuring the provision of medical equipment and medications to health centres and facilities to meet operational standards and enhance the delivery of quality health services.

IOM Venezuela’s mental health and psychosocial support programming is designed to enhance the resilience and well-being of crisis-affected communities, with a focus on addressing mental health needs and fostering long-term recovery. IOM emphasizes community-based interventions and specialist-led mental health care as part of a comprehensive response. Activities include:

• Psychological first aid and psychoeducational activities for awareness raising, for people on the move, provided at TAC/MAPs.
• Psychosocial mobile teams delivering unstructured and structured psychosocial support group activities aimed at strengthening individual, family and community resilience.
• Co-leadership of the MHPSS Technical Working Group (TWG) at the national level as part of the humanitarian coordination system.
• Community–based MHPSS activities such as socio-recreational, creative and arts-based, sports and play activities with the aim of fostering social cohesion among displaced, crisis-affected, and host populations.
• Focused MHPSS interventions, such as individual and group counselling and peer support, and psychoeducation designed to provide immediate psychosocial support and build coping mechanisms. Individual counselling is specifically provided for vulnerable populations, including people with disabilities, women, people with diverse sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, and sex characteristics (SOGIESC) and those experiencing high levels of distress, in collaboration with local health professionals.
• Mental health interventions that are evidence-based, led by mental health specialists, focusing on early identification of mental health issues, the provision of essential care and referral to specialized mental health care for persons with severe mental health problems at a community level and at TACs and Safe Spaces.
• Capacity strengthening for local actors and authorities on community-based MHPSS in emergencies, specific evidence-based MHPSS tools (Mental Health Gap Action Programme [mhGAP], Problem Management Plus [PM+] among others), psychological first aid, basic intercultural communication and psychosocial skills ensuring sustainable and ongoing services.

These activities aim to improve both the immediate and long-term psychosocial well-being of affected populations by fostering resilience and coping strategies in crisis situations.  with the tools to recover and thrive.

IOM Venezuela offers post arrival movement assistance to Venezuelan migrant returnees at designated assistance points throughout the country:

• Provision of safe travel arrangements to support the return of individuals to their communities of origin, whether by land or air. Depending on their conditions and the route, movement assistance will be provided either through bus tickets or by arranging private transportation services.
• Dissemination of information about risks, migrants’ rights, and available support and services, along with referrals to relevant protection systems, including authorities, NGOs, and UN agencies.
• Delivery of complementary assistance, such as temporary accommodation and food support, to facilitate movement to the community of origin.

IOM Venezuela's protection programming aims to address GBV and trafficking in persons through a comprehensive, multi-layered approach that spans from immediate humanitarian response to long-term recovery and capacity strengthening. As part of the Protection Cluster, IOM leads the working groups on trafficking in persons and mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS), focusing on preventing violence, strengthening local capacities, and ensuring the safety and well-being of affected populations. Relevant activities include:

• Infrastructure improvement and capacity strengthening, led by specialized IOM protection staff, for local authorities to enhance their ability to safely and ethically link survivors to available specialized services/referral pathways in the case of a disclosure of GBV and trafficking cases. Improvements to the structures of the government's care facilities will be carried out in close collaboration with local authorities and service providers, thus ensuring the implementation is aligned with local and national development plans and integrated within existing infrastructures. These improvements consider long-term needs and possible future expansion or adaptation. 
• Case management services for survivors of GBV and trafficking, ensuring holistic support including health, legal, and MHPSS as part of specialized protection.
• Shelters for VoT and GBV survivors to support them with essential and specialized protection services for recovery. Based on the IOM Handbook on Direct Assistance for Victims of Trafficking and the Guide for Temporary Shelter Spaces for Victims of Human Trafficking in Venezuela, these facilities are specialized in the care of victims of human trafficking and survivors of gender-based violence. 
• Women and Girls Safe Spaces (static and mobile) for the protection and empowerment of women and girls, especially those affected by crisis, where they have access to information, education, recreational activities, feel physically and emotionally safe to form networks, and receive support and services culturally-appropriate and tailored to the context.
• Strengthening community networks for GBV and trafficking prevention, focusing on empowering women's groups and conducting community sensitization campaigns.
• Protection analysis to assess and respond to ongoing risks, with an emphasis on safeguarding individuals and groups in vulnerable situations, including women, children, and individuals with disabilities.
• Awareness-raising on human trafficking, legal guidance, safe migration information, and education on humanitarian principles in TACs and Safe Spaces.
• Rights-based assisted voluntary return and reintegration assistance will be provided to support Venezuelan populations who are unable or unwilling to remain in the host country where they reside and need help to return voluntarily to their communities, in a safe and dignified manner. The assistance provided in Venezuela includes the reception of returnees upon their arrival, the management of the transfer to their places of destination or residence, provision of food, delivery of hygiene kits, information materials, economic support for livelihoods, training, rental support, psychological first aid and other psychosocial support, both on arrival and during their (re)integration process. 

IOM’s protection interventions not only respond to immediate needs but also build resilience and preparedness for future crises, integrate gender mainstreaming as a key element in all activities, and promote sustainable recovery and gender equality.

IOM aims to enhance access to safe water, sanitation, and hygiene for migrants, promoting a safer and disease-free migration experience. IOM also supports WASH interventions in primary healthcare facilities for vulnerable populations in border states affected by the crisis. Key activities include:

• Hygiene and sanitation support involving the distribution of essential hygiene products, including menstrual hygiene and maternity supplies, alongside basic hygiene kits and provision of shower facilities at transit centres.
• Water access and management ensuring hydration support at mobile assistance points and transit centres, along with the distribution of water filters and training on their proper use. 
• Education and community engagement focusing on promoting good hygiene practices through educational workshops and outreach activities and expanding the Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE) Strategy to share best practices in hygiene and sanitation.
• Infrastructure development in transit centres includes the development of maintenance plans for sanitation facilities in temporary shelters in accordance with National WASH Cluster guidelines and implementation of standardized waste management procedures for solid and liquid waste.
• WASH interventions in health facilities, which include rehabilitations, infection prevention and control activities, provision of supplies and tools, and capacity strengthening for the health centre personnel.

To ensure the safety and well-being of individuals in transit, IOM is committed to providing comprehensive multi-sectoral assistance and enhancing the infrastructure of transit centres. This approach focuses on creating safe spaces and ensuring access to essential services. Key activities include:

• Provision of safe and dignified accommodation at TACs that will also allow beneficiaries to access other multisectoral services provided in TACs, such as food, health and MHPSS, legal support or humanitarian transportation and communication, among others.
• Distribution of non-food items at TACs, including hygiene and menstrual kits/items and maternity supplies, as well as general items such as flashlights or backpacks among others.
• Rehabilitation and maintenance of facilities at TACs to ensure safe and dignified assistance and protection, including preventive maintenance of water, sanitation, and electricity systems. This includes ensuring functionality through the provision of necessary supplies and equipment.

Data is a critical asset for the national and international community in Venezuela, supporting evidence-based decision-making, enhancing inter-agency coordination, and informing strategic and operational programming. It also plays a key role in advocacy with stakeholders and donors. The main activities include:

• Monitoring migration flows and conducting surveys to assess the needs of migrants, IDPs, and returnees, using methods such as interviews, surveys, and field visits, with data disaggregated by sex and location. Additionally, IOM will analyze migration trends, patterns and human mobility at Venezuela’s borders to support protection efforts and assess climate vulnerability to incorporate climate risks into migration planning.
• Carrying out thematic studies tailored to the country’s information needs, providing deeper insights into specific issues such as vulnerability, protection, and climate-related displacement.
• Support to data collection and mapping of needs and vulnerabilities along migration routes and in affected communities (transit/host) to contribute to the Humanitarian Needs Overview (HNO).
• Provision of figures, data, analysis, and statistics to support the Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP) process, ensuring informed decision-making and guiding the development of policies for an effective response.
• Keeping donors and stakeholders updated on migration trends and migrant profiles, ensuring that stakeholders are informed on the evolving migration situation to guide funding and programmatic decisions.

To enhance the preparedness and capacity of communities and institutions for future disaster-related challenges, IOM will implement these key activities:

• Community preparedness and planning involves promoting contingency plans and community response strategies to ensure a thorough analysis of threats, risks, and vulnerabilities, while also supporting the development of information management and coordination mechanisms.
• Risk assessment and early warning systems will strengthen community early warning systems by integrating technical knowledge with traditional practices and will support local hazard assessments along with tailored emergency preparedness simulations to better prepare for climate-related challenges.
• Capacity strengthening and training aims to enhance stakeholder capacities using the Mass Evacuation in Natural Disasters (MEND) Guide and to provide training for communities in selecting safe locations for shelters and WASH facilities, with consideration for climate resilience.
• Prepositioning and resource management focuses on stockpiling lifesaving and humanitarian relief supplies, including shelter materials, WASH items, essential household items, and health supplies, to ensure rapid deployment in emergencies.

IOM Venezuela prioritizes community-based interventions to promote sustainable reintegration through area based approaches (ABA) using IOM’s Community Based Planning Manual as a reference. The Organization works to help address the root causes of crises and displacement through conflict-sensitive activities that apply a humanitarian-development-peace nexus (HDPN) approach, while strengthening relationships between communities and local institutions to support community stabilization. Communities are selected based on criteria such as high levels of internal displacement, areas of migrant returns, and other factors that indicate vulnerability or need. Key activities include:

• Rehabilitation of basic and community infrastructure such as health care facilities, schools, and community spaces to promote social inclusion, while revitalizing local markets through food security initiatives that foster self-sufficiency and social cohesion between host communities and returnees.
• Social cohesion and community engagement activities that restore social bonds, including sports, cultural events, and civic dialogue, particularly in indigenous communities where traditional practices and worldviews are integrated, alongside the development of projects or initiatives aimed at fostering ties among community members and enhancing coordination with local authorities.
• Access to quality education is promoted by providing resources and support, including the distribution of school kits to children and adolescents, which fosters an environment conducive to learning and community engagement.

IOM's livelihoods and economic recovery initiatives aim to support vulnerable communities by providing sustainable income opportunities and promoting self-sufficiency. These efforts help reintegrate individuals exposed to violence, exploitation and abuse, especially women, children, adolescents, and indigenous communities, particularly in areas affected by mining-related protection risks. By integrating protection measures into community livelihood projects, IOM enhances safety and resilience, while fostering local entrepreneurship and economic recovery tailored to specific needs and market conditions. IOM will focus on: 

• Implementation of livelihoods initiatives in urban and rural settings focused on supporting IDPs, returnees and indigenous communities to facilitate reintegration and provide sustainable income sources. In areas where protection risks are heightened due to mining activities, these efforts will also serve as mechanisms for protection, self-sustainability and social cohesion.
• Community participation and protection measures integrated with community livelihood initiatives to enhance safety and resilience. A community-based participatory approach will identify entrepreneurship opportunities and economic recovery activities tailored to local contexts, market demands, and feasibility.
• Skills training and resources include offering technical training in financial literacy, small business management, business planning, and basic accounting skills. Additionally, providing seed capital, equipment, and supplies will help initiate livelihood activities.
• Private sector engagement and monitoring with a focus on encouraging private sector involvement in reintegration and economic recovery efforts to strengthen local economies. Establishing customized monitoring plans to track progress and outcomes will be crucial for promoting community cohesion and enhancing organizational capacity through these initiatives.

To promote effective migration policies, IOM aims to enhance collaboration among key actors and ensure policies are informed by evidence, focusing on addressing the mobility dimensions of crisis and promoting the inclusion of the specific needs of affected populations in policy development and governance. Key activities include:

• Stakeholder engagement and capacity strengthening involves organizing workshops and forums that bring together government officials, NGOs, and community representatives to collaboratively develop policies and share best practices. Training programmes for policymakers will enhance their capacity for informed decision-making on effective migration and displacement strategies.
• Strengthening the government's migration framework by promoting the design and development of policies that incorporate regional approaches, such as those within the Southern Common Market (MERCOSUR in Spanish). Monitoring and evaluation systems will be established to assess the effectiveness of policies and allow for adjustments based on feedback and changing circumstances.
• Advocacy and public awareness initiatives will focus on launching campaigns to raise awareness about the importance of integrated policies and their implications for vulnerable populations. Furthermore, efforts will be made to increase public awareness about policy changes and develop regional strategies to foster support for the implementation of policies that include international perspectives and collaborations.

IOM plays a key role in supporting the humanitarian response in Venezuela by providing critical data, analysis, and coordination across migration routes and affected communities. Key activities include:

• Collaborating with Clusters and Technical Working Groups to inform strategic and operational decision-making, enhancing technical cooperation, improving resource allocation, and ensuring responses align with priority needs across all sectors, facilitating effective collaboration and cooperation among stakeholders to ensure efficient and well-aligned responses.
• Strengthening the capacities of local and national governments by providing training and support to partners. 
• Establishing partnerships with local organizations to enhance the localization strategy, focusing on context-driven and sustainable humanitarian responses, including promoting regular pathways for migration to provide safer and more accessible alternatives to irregular migration routes.

Fostering peace and social cohesion involves celebrating cultural inclusion and diversity and equipping communities with conflict resolution skills. Communities will be selected based on criteria such as high levels of internal displacement, areas with significant migrant returns, and other factors indicating vulnerability or need. Key activities include:

• Cultural exchange initiatives that celebrate diversity and encourage interaction among different communities, fostering mutual respect and understanding.
• Workshops focused on conflict resolution that equip community members with essential skills to address disputes peacefully, promoting a culture of dialogue.
• Collaboration with local organizations to enhance support for grassroots peace initiatives, including youth-led projects that aim to strengthen social cohesion and inclusion.

Accessible and sufficient regular migration pathways are essential for ensuring safe and orderly movements, especially for crisis-affected populations. By promoting regular and safe migration channels, and providing support services, organizing outreach and information provision among others, individuals at risk of displacement can access safer alternatives and make informed choices to avoid dangerous routes and risks. Key activities include:

• Develop comprehensive support systems to provide relevant, accurate, and timely information and guidance, helping the affected population to make informed decisions that prioritize their safety, thereby reducing reliance on dangerous and irregular routes, including legal advice and orientation for migrants to access existing regular pathways.
• Training sessions to strengthen Government officials' knowledge of labour migration regulations and practices. It includes sharing practices on teleworking, improving labour migration management, promoting ethical recruitment and fair labour agreements, raising awareness of ethical hiring, and enhancing systems for validating degrees and competencies to facilitate migrants’ access to formal employment, as well as existing regular pathways, human rights, available services and referral mechanisms. 
• Community outreach initiatives to raise awareness about safe migration options to help individuals recognize the risks of illegal practices, seeking to reduce exploitation and trafficking.